In my search to live disease free, I have found many interesting research articles written on the power of minerals to help humans and animals fend off disease. Recently, I was listening to a CD while driving to work from Dr. Joel Wallach, the author of “Dead Doctors Don’t Lie” and the entire reason we are facing issues with our food supply was revealed and I’d like to share it with you. It explains why we are deficient in minerals, at epidemic levels.

Before the modern kitchen and lifestyle, and for thousands of years, cooking was primarily done over wood. Even as late as the 1940’s, we used wood stoves in our kitchens in the U.S. From burning wood, came ashes. Although plants only need 9 minerals total, and 3 that are critical to their health (nitrogen, phosphate and potassium), they take in minerals for the benefit of animals and humans. What happens when wood burns, is that the minerals are left behind in the ashes…a very rich and potent fertilizer for the soil. For thousands of years these ashes were dumped in the gardens and on the plants, which in turn, took up these minerals and provided for us on our daily dinner table, a rich and potent mixture. It was a system that replenished the mineral supply on a daily basis.

Another form of mineral distribution was in the burning of trees and bush to “clear” land for gardening. This is no longer a common practice, and in fact, it is illegal to burn your crops in many counties and states across the U.S. (A practice we might need to reconsider for our own health).

With the invention of modern life, there was no need to burn wood, to put the ashes on the garden plants, and therefore, we do not have those same minerals in our food supply. These trace minerals such as selenium, have been linked to the prevention of certain cancers, as well as diabetes, heart disease, dementia, and other “modern day” diseases which seem to be on the rise. Since our food is mainly supplied by large corporations, intent on profits above all else, there is no reason for the to spend the extra money on additional minerals that do not affect the health of the plants.

My recommendation is to make sure your daily supplements include a healthy dose of minerals, to insure you are not missing out.

There is an interesting report by the US Department of Agriculture that traces our food supply over the 20th century: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/publications/foodsupply/foodsupply1909-2000.pdf

Dr. Oz gave us all a great way to self-test for Vitamin D deficiency a few weeks ago on his show and anyone can do this. Take your thumb and press it somewhat hard on the center of your breastbone. If you feel pain, it is a sign that your bones could be deficient in Vitamin D. Vitamin D3 supplements are readily available, and if you are deficient you need to immediately “boost” your levels with between 5,000 to 10,000 I.U. and after taking this amount for a month, check in with your doctor for a blood test so you know your levels. I find 10,000 I.U. daily just barely put me on the low side of normal, and in 2006 I suffered a clinical deficiency that was misdiagnosed for polymyalgia rheumatica. It was almost a year of suffering until I went to a different doctor who looked for the root cause of the pain.

Vitamin D deficiency is very high in the United States, and many doctors are unaware of the deficiency and the somewhat broad variety of symptoms including overall pain like is seen with the diseases like fibromyalgia and joint pain.

The test is a simple blood test and results are generally available within 48 hours. If you suspect you are deficient, best to get the levels checked as soon as possible.

Dr. Oz reminded us that great facials don’t have to come from the department store and break the bank! The one he mentioned on his show was a combination of nutmeg powder and honey.

I have my own recipes:

Hair Mask:
If you have never tried mayonnaise on your hair, you have missed a great way to rebuild the protein, add moisture and shine, and its pennies per treatment. Take 2 tbsn and mix with one tbsn organic olive oil. Mix it into your hair, and wait 30 minutes. The vinegar in the mayo actually cuts the buildup of hair products, and the protein in the egg and the oil rebuild your hair shaft. Of course, don’t forget…you must shampoo it out!

Facial to Restore Skin, non-drying:
As you age, your skin seems to have trouble maintaining moisture. Part of the problem is the need to rid your dead skin cells (scrubbing needed) and part of it is the lack of nutrition. This is not “pretty” but it is amazing. Mix 2 tbsn of honey with 2 tbsn of oatmeal, rough cut. Do not cook…you want the hard oats. Next, add a tbsn of olive oil. The mixture is difficult to mix, but give it about a minute of stirring. Slather on your face and wait 30 minutes. Rinse in warm water, while scrubbing with the oats. Keep your eyes shut!

Facial to Improve Acne:
This facial was famous when I was younger. Whip up 2 egg whites. Add the juice of one lemon, or about a slight tbsn. Spread on face and wait 30 minutes. The egg whites work to clean the oil from the pores, and the lemon juice provides vitamin C to your skin. Rinse in warm water, then close your pores with cold water

Enjoy your skin renewal treatments and let me know how they work for YOU!

It’s a gray Sunday morning here in Dallas, so I find it a great time to sip some Life Extension Foundation specially processed coffee (keeps the antioxidants in the coffee bean) and update the blog with some amazing research presented on the Dr. Oz show a few weeks ago.

The idea of getting a face lift scares most people to death! The risks associated with anesthetic, bacterial infections, and unknown results is enough to send some people running for their life. I might just fit in the category!

There is hope for those of us who would rather wrestle a rattlesnake as be in the doctor’s office. One of the most important ways to improve your skin lies in the magic Dr. Linus Pauling (Nobel Prize winner twice) and is readily available for anyone, and without a prescription. VITAMIN C.

Vitamin C is:
1) Essential for the building of collagin
2) Essential to protect against UV damage

And applied directly to the skin is absorbed as much as 20 times more than when taken orally. The products you need to look for are products that contain 3-10% ascorbic acid and are mixed with vitamin A (retinol). Use first thing in the morning and moisturize after with a sunblock. Along with your topical vitamin C, it is wise to also take amino acid supplements. Collagen is made up of Glycine, Proline, Hydroxyproline and Arginine. If you are missing these amino acids, your body cannot rebuild.

Another new breakthrough in faking a facelift is phytoceremides in pill form. These hydrate the body from the inside out, plumping the skin cells and removing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. You need 350 mg per day, plant derived. It takes about 4 weeks to see the results, but they are amazing. (Sweet potato or rice derived is available if you have gluten sensitivity).

I don’t endorse any particular products, however, if you have had good results with any, please feel free to post them!

Just like everything in life, not all things are equal, no matter what the ingredients list state on the bottle. This can be very critical when looking for supplements that one takes to improve their health…not hurt it. I have had a copy of the “NutriSearch Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements” by Lyle MacWilliam MSc, FP for years, but there is a new 2011-2012 edition that has included research about the benefits of vitamin D to overall health.

In this body of research, 3 companies rise to the top in their compliance to the highest levels of quality and ingredients; USANA Health Sciences, Douglas Laboratories, TrueStar Health. There are other 5 star companies, but these three set the “gold” standard in every aspect of measurement.

Before you invest your time and money in a particular supplement, check out the rankings and performance in this book. You’ll be amazed at the differences in quality and the science behind the supplements.

After careful review, I have switched to USANA. I’ll let you know how it goes! Here’s to your health!

I hear many of my friends, family and colleagues making doctor appointments for their colds and flu. I generally don’t say much, but unless the cold, flu, virus which I will just refer to as “a bug” has drained your immune system over time, and you have a secondary bacterial infection, there is nothing a doctor can do. Going to the doctor at that point can expose you to other bugs as well as spread your bug to others. Stay home! Do not go anywhere! Not to work, not to the store, and use proven natural remedies to fight the bug.

Many years ago, my chiropractor gave me some excellent information. Your body runs a fever in order to burn out the bug. What do most people do? They fight their body’s natural defenses by taking medications from the drug store that actually defeat your body’s natural defense. I am not advocating allowing a high fever to damage you or your loved ones, as we know a fever can become dangerous. But I am advocating that you work with you body, monitoring it closely to help it fight.

How do you do this? Allow your fever to run its course as long as it stays below 104 degrees. Anything 104 or above is getting to the dangerous level, but prior to that your body is fighting and doing what it is supposed to do. When you are getting the chills, take a hot shower or bath, put on your flannels, and go to bed with lots of covers. Give yourself green tea, or another hot beverage, along with some organic honey. When you are hot, it is time to cool your body down. Follow your body and it’s natural desires to fight.

I’m not an advocate of taking anything that dries up your mucous, unless you have asthma. In the condition of asthma, one must be very careful to not allow any buildup that could contribute to that condition. If you are healthy, without asthma or other lung conditions, you can shorten the duration of your cold by allowing your body to naturally purge it with the normal sneezing and blowing that goes on.

I am not associated in any way with any company, but for the past 13 years I have used Esberitox, which is a combination of echinacea and other herbs. It has been manufactured for over 70 years, and it is safe to use for all ages. The tablets are chewables and actually taste good. It reduces the duration. I have never taken Tamiflu, but I can imagine that it is similar in results. I recommend taking it with you when you travel to foreign countries too, because it can be difficult to shop for a cold medication in a foreign language, not to mention trying to figure out what might work against your mental agility or other medications.

If you are lucky enough to live in an area where there is a public garden or arboretum, this time of year is especially beautiful with cooler days and a slight wind. In Dallas, the arboretum is displaying Chihuly glass sculpture and I’ve managed to embed a slide show (a miricle for technolgy challenged me) and I hope you enjoy it!

My mother was a big fan of Listerine. Now I read that cavities are caused by bacteria. Germs….they were the culprit for the cavities suffered by many of my friends. I was lucky, I never had any until I became an adult. I kissed my boyfriend…next thing you know, I have a cavity in college. Who knew? My mom! She told me cavities are contagious. Somehow she knew.

I don’t think Listerine is necessarily the answer, but certainly seeing your dentist and keeping an eye on plaque build up cannot hurt.

Check out the recent article from Life Extension Foundation for the details:

There is a new term among the fit and healthy! It’s called “clean” eating. Have you heard it yet? Clean eating is the art of eating real food, real fresh, and without additives or toxins of any sort. I’m living in Dallas, TX and it is the land of big! Our roads are big, our restaurants are big, but unfortunately, it is hard to find “clean” eating in this metroplex.

The book “The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged” is an excellent book for learning the overall health benefits of eating “clean.” Two weeks on a clean diet and you might find no more sinus headaches (from preservatives), no more aches and pains (from hidden preservatives), and an overall feeling of better energy and clearing thinking. You can find this book at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Clean-Diet-Recharged-Lasting-Better/dp/1552100677/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346204321&sr=1-3&keywords=clean+eating

If you want to reach further into healthy eating, try the art of Paleo…the caveman diet! Eating “clean” and “Paleo” has to be an awesome combination! Try it and let me know!